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People gather on North Market Street in East Palestine, Ohio, in a protest organized by Mike Young, who described it as an "anti-Biden" protest, on Feb. 16, 2024. The event was organized in response to President Joe Biden's arrival to the town, where over a year ago, a train derailed and spilled toxic chemicals into the environment.
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President Joe Biden visited the site of the tragic Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, more than one year after the disaster to provide the country with an update on how the clean-up of the chemicals spilled has been going. The train was carrying vinyl chloride, a toxic chemical, when it derailed, causing officials to order an evacuation for many in the town. They also conducted a controlled burn to to try to prevent other train cars from exploding. Since the burn, residents of East Palestine have reported developing rashes and respiratory issues.
On the morning of Biden's arrival, community members and other visitors gathered in what they called an "anti-Biden protest" to show to their opposition to Biden. the rally, organized by Mike Young, was scheduled to end when Biden arrived in the town, as many expressed their distaste for Biden, saying they didn't want to see him at all.
Among the protesters, there were some supporters of Biden, who faced some opposition from the protesters.
As the presidential motorcade prepared to leave the East Palestine, pro-Palestine protesters showed up to confront Biden, and were also met with opposition by the "anti-Biden" protesters.
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The railroad tracks that intersect with North Pleasant Drive in East Palestine, Ohio, Feb. 16, 2024. These are part of the same tracks that would need repaired after the train derailment one year before.
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Gene and Charlene stand for a portait on North Market Street in East Palestine, Ohio, wearing accesories and holding flags in support of Donald Trump. Having traveled from Buffalo, New York, they said they wanted to "show support" for the town and "learn," on Feb. 16, 2024.
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Signs criticising President Joe Biden line North Market Street in East Palestine, Ohio, Feb. 16, 2024. An "anti-Biden" protest was organized in response to President Joe Biden's arrival to the town, where over a year ago, a train derailed and spilled toxic chemicals into the environment.
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Members of an 'anti-Biden" protest, as described by organizer Mike Young, sell merchandise in support of East Palestine and in opposition of President Joe Biden, on Feb. 16, 2024.
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Bernie Moreno, the Republican candidate for the 2024 United States Senate elections, endorsed by Donald Trump, talks to the people gathered in East Palestine, sharing similar sentiments to that of the crowd, on Feb. 16, 2024. Moreno stated he would leave right before President Biden arrived, saying, "We're going to turn our back on him just like he turned his back on us."
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Pins on Gene's jacket show his support for Donald Trump and Russia, referring to its ongoing war with Ukraine. He, like others at the "anti-Biden protest," said that the United States government should not have sent money to helps Ukraine, but was in support of government money being sent to Israel in its war with Hamas.
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The presidential motorcade arrives in East Palestine, Ohio, Feb. 16, 2024. President Joe Biden visits the town over a year after a train derailed, spilling toxic chemicals into the environment.
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People gather on North Market Street, on Feb 16, 2024, in East Palestine, Ohio, to watch the presidential motorcade pass by as President Biden arrives to address the train derailment that happened a year before.
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Ralph Neopoliton, from Newcastle, Pennslyvania, made the trip to East Palestine in support of Biden, on Feb. 16, 2024. He was met with opposition from those part of the rally, but had a notebook of the Biden administration's initiatives that he supported to rebut them. He also mentioned his dislike of Trump, citing one reason being the "loosening" of safety rules for trains.
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Members of an "anti-Biden" protest confront members of a pro-Palestine protest on East Palestine Ohio's North Market Street. Both groups gathered in criticism of President Joe Biden on Feb. 16, 2024.
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After President Biden's speech, pro-Palestine groups showed up with hopes to confront Biden for sending money to Israel, on North Market Street, in East Palestine, Ohio, on Feb. 16, 2024. These groups included the Party for Socialism and Liberation’s (PSL’s) Cleveland branch, Palestinian Youth Movement, U.S. Palestinian Community Network, among others.
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An Ohio State Highway Patrol Trooper walks up to address the crowd of "anti-Biden" and pro-Palestine protesters on North Market Street, after taping the street off. He asks them to "step to the sidewalks and go three buildings back," for the safety of Biden, who was scheduled to leave around that time, on Feb. 16, 2024.
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A crowd of "anti-Biden" and pro-Palestine protesters on stand on North Market Street, behind a police-tape line, watching as the presidential motorcade prepares to leave East Palestine, Feb. 16, 2024. The groups argue with each other while standing should-to-shoulder, though both sides came to criticize Biden.
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